Wellhead seal



Sept. 16, 1952 Filed Aug. 19, 1946 J. E. ECKEL WELLHEAD SEAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I swam GT (ELM P 1952 J. E. ECKEL 7 2,610,689

WELLHEAD SEAL I v Filed Aug. 19, 1946 a Sheets-Sheet Patented Sept. 16, 1952 1 John E. Eckel, Houston, Tex., assignor to Oil Center Tool'Company,'Houston, Tex., acorporation of Texas Application August 19, 1946, Serial No'. GQI S IQ v This invention relates to a -well head seal.

An object of the invention is toprovide, in a well head, a seal between the head and a pipe extending through the head to prevent the es-- cape of well fluid around the pipe through the head together with novel means for compressing the seal to cause expansion thereof, in case leakage should occur, to form a'fluid tight seal.

The novel type of seal herein described is so designed that it may be closed about a tubing,- or drill pipe, and may be lowered through a blowout preventer or master valve into the tubing head seat and locked therein by conventional securing means. I

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a seal of the character described of such construction that it may be placed under compression, and thereby expanded into sealing relation with the well head and with the pipe therein by convenient means accessible to'an operator.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation tocertain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, examplesof which are givenin this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation,part1y in section, illustrating the invention as applied around a tubing suspended from a tubing head bonnet. Figure 2 is a plan view'of the, seal shown in closed position;

. Figure 3 is a perspective view thereof shown in the seal illustrating another type'ofexpanding core therein; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary; sectional view of the type shown in Figure 6 with external and:

internal annular lips therearound.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference desi -i nate' similar parts in each oi" the figures, the

. 16 Claims. (01. 16 6- 14) numeral l designates a casing, or other pipe, in a well and the numeral 2 designates a casing head thereon.

Mounted-on the casing head 2 there is a tub-J in-g head 3 whose upper endis formed witha downwardlyand inwardly tapering seat 4.

As illustrated" in Figure 1 there is shown, mounted'on i the tubing head, a gtubing head bonnet 5 and depending therefrom, there is'the' we'll tubing'B. V j" The seal sh'own'in Figure 1 is more clearly il-, lustrated in Figures 2 and 3, wherein an an chor forthe packing, or seal ring, is shown. The numerals 1, 1 designate similar, lower arcuate sections, or halves, or the anchor ring for the resilient sealing material, upstanding .from the inner margins of which "are the arcuate flanges 8, 8.1 'Thesesections I. are hinged t ogether, at one side, by a hinge 9 This anchor also includes the upper arcuate ring sections I0, I 0 which coincide with the anchor sections 1 and which are provided, one with a latch II and the other with a cross rod l2 engageable by the latch to hold thes'ectionsclosed about the tubing 6. Any

mpl ye Depending from theanchor sections 1 are complementarypacking ring sections l3, [3 which are preferably formed of rubber or other similar material. As illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the lower ends of the packing; or seal ring, sections have the deep, arcuated, downwardly flared grooves H in which are seated arcuate cores, or expand ers l5, iiwhich are formed'off metal or other rigid material.

There are the clamp bolts l5 whose lowerends may be threaded into the expanders l5 and these-bolts extend up through the anchor ring.

sections 1, the ring sections Ill and whose upper e'n'ds'fjare externally threaded to receive the nutsll.

*Asii dstr ted, th t are two of theclarnp bolts provided for ach section or the wellhead'seal;

Theouter margins of the ring sections [0 are beveled upwardly forming the beveled faces 18;

l8 andf theopposing margins of the anchor sections 1 are beveledfdownwardly forming the'bev cled-faces 19,119 'iiIhB face's lB and I9 diverge outwardly.

other selected type of latch may be The seal, in use, is latched about the tubin 6 and may be lowered through a blow-out preventer or master valve, or the like, into the tubing head 3 until it lands on the downwardly tapering seat 4.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings the upper end of the tubing head is provided with the conventional external annular flange 20 and extended inwardly through said flange are the screws 2! having threaded connections with the tubing head and whose inner ends are tapered to engage the upper and lower faces [8. IS. The outer ends of said screwsaresurrounded by suitable. stufllhg" boxes 22 inlthev flange. 20.

When said screws are screwed inwardly the anchor ring sections 1 are forced more tightly into the tapering seat 4 of the tubing head and simultaneously the ring sections 1 are moved-u wardly against the nuts ll. thus subjecting. the bolts IE to tension and applyingverticalcomepression to the packing ring sections thus expanding said sections to form fluid tight joints with the tubing 6 and with the seatl'.

The form of packing in Figure 4 is similarto that shown in Figure 1 excepting that each packing ring. section l3, [3 has. the outer. and. inner grooves |-3'a,.. 13a therearound with. up.- wardly diverging lips fitting closely. against the seat 4 and the tubing. 6, respectively, .to.pr.event the. downward flow or; pressure. fluid between the tubing and thetubing head.

It will be notedthat inthe form showninFi ures 1,.3- and 4 that thelexpanders are exposed beneath,. that. is. they. are. surrounded. by rubber above and on each side while in Figures'lfi'iand 7' they. are shown. as completely surrounded; by rubber.

In the form illustratedirn Figure. 5,.there. is anopen work metal cage. embodied in each section of the packing ring. and the bolts I6. are secured, at theirlower ends, to said'cage.

It is to be further noted that. in. each. of the. forms the packing. rings, formed of. the. complem'entary sections l-3,.. are provided. with the outer. and; inner fiaredlips 23land" 24. which fit closely against the seat It and the surrounded tubing 8.

With the assembly shown in Figure Ilwherein the upper end of'the. tubing is connected to the. tubing head bonnet 5", the Christmas tree mam-- fold may be moved vertically for the purpose. of setting packers or moving packer valves or. similar operations and the tubing, will slide through the seal in sealing contact-therewith; one. of the major uses of this type of tubing headlseal' being. in connection with the setting. of; packers and the washing and completing of' wells. It also serves as a blow-out preventer. while. run.- ningth'e tubinginto the well.

The drawings and description are illustrative. merely while the broad principle 01 theinvention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a tubular'well' head havingv a supporting seat therein,. and having. awelll pipe extending. therethrough, a. sealing assembly for sealing off between the well pipe and the. inside wall of the well headand including. an annular support adapted-i. to engage. the seat within the well head and surroundin the. well pipe,. an annular expansible. sealing. member below the support, pressure-applying. means-.hav-- ing. a portion. thereof connected-to. the sealing member and. slidably extending upwardly through the support, an upper ring overlying the support and movable relative thereto and secured to the pressure-applying means, and operating means mounted in the well head and movable substantially radially inwardly between the annular support and the upper ring coacting with the support and said pressure-applying means to simultaneously lock said support against upward displacement and to urge the upper ring and the pressure-applying means attached thereto upwardly with respect to the support and sealing member, whereby an upward pressure is applied to the sealing member by the pressure-applying means to deform said member into sealing engagement with the well head pipe and head below the support.

2. The combination as set forth in claiml wherein the radially movable operating means is accessible from the exterior of the well head.

3.. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein .the: radially movable operating means comprises:- a plurality of radially extending screws mounted within the well head and having theirrinner ends tapered to effect a. separation of. the; support and upper ring upon inward movement of said screws;

4. An. annular seal comprising, an anchor formed: of-. arcuate sections, seal ring sections formed of. resilient materialdepending from the respective anchor. sections, each. anchor section being. composed. of. upper. and lower arcuate parts, an. expander. in. each. seal ringsection, securing means extending, through the lower arcuatepart of. each anchor. section and connected to. oneof: the expanders and. also connected to the-corresponding, upper part of the anchor section to-fastenltheexpanders to the upper parts of: the." anchor section, whereby upon relative movement. of said: upper. part. with respect to the lower part in a direction separating said upper. and lower. parts, said. seal ring sections will be placed under compression and laterally expanded-..

5. An. annular: sealing: assembly comprising.

anannular anchor formed of. rigid material and composed of. upper. and lower ring sections movable relative to each other, an expansible seal ring beneath .theanchor, an expander in the seal ring, securing meansi extending through each lower ring. section: and. connected to the expander: and also. connected. to the corresponding upperring section to: fasten the expander to the upper rin sections whereby upon. movement of the. upper. ring section relative to the lower ring section in. a direction separating the sections. the seal ring. will. be placed under compression by the expander to cause expansion thereof.

6. An annular sealing assembly as set forth in claimv 5,. wherein. said assembly is. formed of complemental sections which are. hinged together. Y

7.. In. combination; a tubular head having an inwardly and downwardly converging seat and shaped to receive: an. inner. pipe therethrough, an annular. sealing. assembly'with a downwardly converging: periphery fitting into said seat, andhavingan. annular anchor formed of rigid material and composed. of superposed upper and lower ring; sections, a sectional expansible. seal ring beneath the anchor, an arcuaterigid ex.- pander sectionin'thelower portion of each sectlon. of. theseal-ningt securing means extending. movably through: the lower ring sections andv through theseal-ring sections and connected to saidexpander section and also to the upper anchor ring, section to fasten the expander sections 5 to the upper anchor Imaginations; means extending radially through the head and engageable between the upper and lower ring, sections for wedging between the upperv and lower ring sections to apply pressure to, and to clamp, the

seal ring against the anchorto expand the seal ring. I

8. An annular sealing assembly comprising, an annular anchor formed of rigid material; and having upper and lower sections, a seal ring beheath said anchor and formed of resilient material, a connecting means having its upper end secured to the upper anchor section and extending loosely through the lower anchor section and having its lower end secured to the seal ring, movement of the upper and lower anchor sections in a direction separating the sections resulting in the seal ring being urged upwardly against the anchor by said connecting means, said seal ring having outer and inner annular grooves in its outer and inner peripheries respectively, said grooves forming annular upwardly directed lips.

9. A sealing assembly for sealing the annular space between a well head and a tubular member extending through the head, said assembly including, a support shaped to surround the tubular member and adapted to seat in the well head, an elastic sealing means below the support shaped to surround said tubular member to form a seal between the well head and the tubular member, means connected with the sealing means and having its upper portion extending through the support and movable relative to the support to apply pressure to the sealin means to urge the sealing means against the support to distort the elastic sealing means into sealing position, an upper actuating ring forming part of the assembly connected to the upper end of the pressure applying means, and means mounted in the well head for radial movement and accessible to an operator from exteriorly of the head, said last named means being engageable upon radial movement with the support and with the actuating ring to move said support and ring in opposite directions to thereby urge the support and sealingmeans in one direction and at the same time urge the pressure applying means in an opposite direction to apply pressure to the sealin means.

10. A sealing assembly for sealing the annular space between a well head and a tube extending through the head, said assembly including, a support shaped to surround the tube and adpated to seat in the well head, an expansible sealing member below the support shaped to surround said tube and to form a seal between the well head and the tube, means connected with the sealing member and having its upper portion extending through the support and movable relative to the support, to apply pressure to the sealing member to urge the sealing member against the support to distort the elastic sealing means into sealing position, an upper actuating ring forming part of the assembly connected to the upper end of the pressure apto the support to apply press'urelto. the: sealing member deforming the. same into sealing. relae tion with the tube and head, i*

. 11. An annular sealingassemblycomprising,

an annular anchor formed of rigid material and composed of upper 'and lower ring sections whose outer margins diverge toforrn: an annular groovebe-tween the sections oi the-anto the seal ring and also connected to the upper ring' section whereby upon movement of the ring sections relative to each other in a direction away from each other said expander means acts upon the seal ring to place the seal ring under compression to cause expansion thereof.

12. An annular sealing assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein said assembly is formed of complemental ring sections which are hinged together.

13. In combination, a well head having a well pipe extending therethrough, a sealing assembly including an annular support and an elastic annular sealing member supported on said support within the well head surrounding the pipe and sealing the annular space between the pipe and head, a movable expander-actuating means above said support and sealing member, an expander below the sealing member, a connection extending through the support and sealing member for connecting the expander-actuating means to the expander, whereby when said explying means, and means mounted in the support for radial movement and accessible to an operator from exteriorly or" the support, said last named means being engageable upon radial movement with the support and with the actuating ring to move said support and ring in opposite directions to thereby lock the sealing member against movement in the head and to also move the pressure applying means relative pander-actuating means is urged in a direction away from the sealing member and support, an upward pressure will be applied to said member, and radially movable means mounted in the well head and arranged to move between the support and the expander-actuating means to simultaneously lock the support against upward movement in the head, and to move the expander upwardly with respect to the locked sealing member to deform the same into sealing position.

14. A sealing assembly for sealing the annular space'between a well head and a pipe extending through said head, said assembly including a well head having a seat, an annular support adapted to seat on said seat within the well head, an annular expansible sealing means below the support forming a seal between the well head and the pipe extending therethrough, pressure-applying means having a portion thereof connected with the sealing means and slidably extending through the annular support, said pressure-applying means being adapted, upon movement thereof relative to the support, to apply upward pressure to the sealing means to urge said sealing means against the support and thereby distort the sealing means into an expanded sealing position and an operating means mounted in the well head and movable radially with respect to the assembly and engageable with the support and also with the pressure-applying means to act simultaneously upon the support and upon the pressureapplying means in opposite directions, whereby said operating mean-s urges the support in one direction and urges the pressure-applying means in an opposite direction to apply pressure to said sealing means.

15. A sealing assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein the operating means consists of a plurality of screw members Whose inner ends T & miftflisllmtfif REFERENCES CITED andm'mapm f means; g ,1 v

16. The combination m.set.fnrth .m claim 14.. g iff ggfif are of record in the wherein the pressure-applying: means consists 01 a: ring: overlying them-19mm and; bolts hay- 5 UNITED STAIES PATENTS lower'ends connected; with the; sealing: Number: Namev Date meansand theinupperendsz-econneeted: with. said 2,001,684 Johnson May 14, 1935 ring: and also'whemln the operating means con.- 2;054',33 6; Penick. et a1. Sept, 15, 1936 sists o1:a..plura1ity:ot radially extending, screws; ,1 ,408 Penickt et' a1. Apr. 11, 1939 having their inner ends tapered to engage be 19 2165.410 Benickzet a1. ,July 11, 193 9- tween; said; ring and: support to; separate these- 2,426,743; Penick: Sept. 2, 1947, parts. upon inwatd movemenizof,v the; operating 2,456,081- Penicl Dec. 14, 1948 means.

JQHN E. ECKEL. 

